Oil concentrator



March 20, 1928. r I. L. EASTMAN OIL CONCENTRATOR Filed June is, 1926Patented Mar. 20, 1928 .IVANL. EASTMAN, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOROIbNE-HALFTO IEROY 12.1mm,

or TOLEDO, 'omo.

on. concnurm'ron.

Application filed June 1a, 1926. scream. 116,912.

My invention has for its object to provide a means for removingliquidsfrom the oil -c0ntained in'an internal combustion engine to therebyrestore its viscosityand its efficiency during its use. Thus myinvention provides a means for maintaining the oilin itsproperlubricatingstate while it is being used .for lubricating the ,parts ofthe engine. As is .well known, the fuel which is drawn into thecylinders of the'engine will pass by-thepistonrings and enter theenginecasing which acts as a reservoir for the oil. The gasoline thusmixed-with the oil thins the oil so as to ;prevent the -maintenanceof anoil film between the bearings of the engine. Also moisture will enterthe chambers in which the oil is contained or through which it passes,such -as,.the *engine casing,tl1e valve chamber etc., which, in theoperation ofthe movingv parts of the engine, tends to :form anemulsion,particularly, in the presence of foreign solid vmaterialsfthat reducesthe efficiency of the oil as a lubricant. By my invention the lighterhydrocarbons and the moisture -is-evaporated and drawn through intake ofthe engine into the engine cylinders where, in the case'of hydrocarbons,itiis burnt, and, inthe case of moisture, it isevacuated through theexhaust.

The invention may be contained in structures that vary in their formandito. illustrate a practical application of the invention, I haveselected two different formsof devices containing my inventionasexamples of such structures and shall-describe them hereinafter. Thestructures selected are shown in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 illustrates a side view of an engine, a part of the enginebeing shown broken away to illustrate a view of a part of a section ofthe device containing my invention. Fig. 2 illustrates a longitudinalsection of one form of my device. Fig. 3 illustrates a section taken onthe plane of the line 33 indicated in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 illustrates atransverse section of a modified form of construction that also embodiesmy invention. V

The device containing my invention is located in the bottom of the crankshaft casing 1 of the engine 2, substantially as shown in Fig. 1. Thedevice 3 has a plate 4 that is so located as to cover the oil containedin the casing and so as to be located sli ht-r ly above the levelof theoil. The p ate through the .oil and the carbureted fuel into 4 ispreferably-dished slightly in order to gather the oil that drips .or issplashedbri thrown from the. moving parts of the engine located in theLeasing and above the plate. lheiplatcis -provided with one-0r moretubes 5-that arerlocated atapoint therein such that it will direct theoil, that iscollectedbythe di-shedyplate, to the oil body located belowthe plate. The tube .5 extends to .a;.;point well below the surface=ofgthe Joil contained in the bottom of the crank" shaftcasingof theengine. I I

-Means is also provided for producing :a vacuous condition abovethelevels-of the oilrand below the plate 4. -This imay be done bymeansof apipe 6 which is connected at one .end-tothe intake manifold 7:of the englue and at the other end to the plate 54.

In the form. ofconstructionshown a thimble ordime Sisconnected'totheplate 4 and the end ofthe gpipe 6 terminates -*in thetopof the thimble 8. This is to ,preventfthe oil from entering into thepipe 6 and being drawn into the intake manifold of the engine. Owing tothe vacuouscondition that is created within the space confined by thelevel 'of the oil and the plate 4 .air will be drawn through the.tube-5- which passes thus aerates fthe oil. This will -.causeevaporation .ofthe lighter hydrocarbons that may work by the pistonrings and enter the oil chamber and also evaporate .any moisture that;may enter the engine casing through the breather :valve or that may beproduced in the .firingof the cylinders and which passes the ,pistonrings into the engine casing. The rate of evaporation will increase asthe temperature of the engine rises which occurs when the engine hasbeen running for a material length of time. The lighter hydrocarbons andthe moisture will be drawn through the pipe 6 into the intake manifoldand will pass with the engine cylinders. The fluids thus drawn from theoil of the engine will be utilized with fuel in i the operation of theengine or will bedischarged through the exhaust.

The device containing my invention may be made in the form of a panhaving a dished or pyramidal bottom, and a flange 10 that may correspondto the configuration of the lower side of the interior of the enginecasing. In this form of construction the' pan is lnverted and preferablyhas dimensions substantially the same as that portion of the enginecasing that forms the reservoir for the oil. It may be made somewhatsmaller, providedit has a volume sufiicient to contain the oil of theenginecasing and prevent the movement of the oil into the pipe 6. Intheitormot construction shown in Fig. at the edges or the plate 11substantially fit the engine casing so/as to substantiallyprevent theadmission of a material amount of air between the edges of the plate andthe side walls" of the engine casing. If desired the plate 11 may bemade integral with the enginecasing or may be securely fitted inposition. I

i The oil is drawn by a suitable pump, such as the pump indicated at12,through the pipe 13 and is delivered to the bearings of the engine inthemanner-well known in the art. The crank shaft casing thus formsareservoir for the oil'troin which it is drawn and delivered tothehearings of the'automobile and inwhich it -ismaintained at a uniformconcentration or consistency to produce a constant lubricatingeflicien'cythat will insure long life to the engine. By

crank shaft casing is intended to include and referto that portion, orthose portions, of the enginecommonlyused for containing or storing theengine lubricating oil.

I claim: i i

1. In an oil concentrator for internal combustion engines, a plateextending across the crank shaft casing for covering the oil in thecasing, means for producing a vacuous condition-belowthe plate, a tubeextending from the plate to a point below the level of the oil for tionof the oil.

2."In an oil @concentrator for internal combustion engines, a plateextending across the crankshaft casing for covering the oil in thecasing, means for producing a vacudirecting air through a'poronecondition below the plate, atube extending from the plate to a pointbelowthe level of the oil for directing air through a portion of theoil, the plate having sloping portions extending to the tube fordirecting the oil suflicient additional space containing air at apressure below atmospheric and thereby r to apoint below the plate.

3.7In an oil concentrator for internal combustion engines, a plateextending across the crank shaft casing for covering the oil in thecasing, means for producing a vacuous condition below the plate, a tubeextending fromthe plate to a point below the level of the oil fordirecting air through a portion of the oil, the plate having flangeslocated at its edges extending to a point below the levelof theoil. i iI 4.}In an oil condenser for internal combiistionfengines, a flangedplate extending across the crank shaft casing and located a shortdistance above thelev'el of the oil in' the casing,-the flangesofftheplate extending below the level of the oil and the plate having atubeextending toapoi-ntbelow the" level 'of the oil, the plate beinginverted pyramidal the tube located at the apex of the pyramidal't'orm,means forproducing a vacuous condition betweenthelevel of the oil andthe underside of the plate whereby oil will be collected the plate andfed into the portion of the crank shaft casing below thepla'teand airwillbe directed through a portion of the oil within thecrank shaftcasing. V

" 5. In an oilconcentrator for internal combustion engines, a.partitioning member forminga chamberpin the lower part of the crankshaft casing of the engine and located above the level of the oil in thecasing, the chamber having aninlet for air located be low the levelfofthe oil in the chamber, a pipe communicating;with the top of the chamberfor drawing air from the top of the chamber.

In testimony whereof .I' have hereunto signed my name to thisspecification.

IVAN L. EASTMAN.

